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Weaning + You: Managing the End of Your Breastfeeding Journey

February 25, 2014

Just like every mom and every baby is different, every breastfeeding journey is different – and each journey begins and ends under unique circumstances. No matter what factors have gone into your decision to wean, know that it can be a very emotional time – you may feel relieved, sentimental, sad, or a combination of all these emotions. Feel proud of what you’ve accomplished, whether you breastfed for 2 weeks or 2 years. You gave your baby the best nutrition possible for as long as you could – and that’s an amazing thing.

If you’re feeding at the breast, you can start by taking the “don’t offer, don’t refuse” approach, which takes your baby’s needs into account while beginning the weaning process in a gentle way. Night feedings will usually be the last to go, and you can still enjoy snuggling and reading to your little one – your routine might change, but the bond you share is forever.

As you transition away from nursing or pumping, here are some tips to make the end of your journey as smooth as possible:

Drop one breastfeeding or pumping session a week, while keeping other sessions the same. Depending on your comfort level, you can drop sessions more frequently or at a slower rate, as well, but taking things too quickly could cause engorgement or stress your little one out, so don’t rush the process.

Space out sessions slowly or postpone feedings, which also leads to a decreased number of sessions over time. For example, if you usually pump or nurse every 4 hours, start pumping or nursing every 4 ½ hours, then every 5 hours, and so on.

Gradually decrease the duration of each session by just a couple of minutes. So, if you usually pump or feed for 20 minutes, cut down to 18 minutes for a few days, then 15 minutes, etc.

We’re very happy to hear that you found our live chats with a Lactation Consultant helpful. Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with us. Way to go for breastfeeding for 15 months, that’s wonderful!

Janet you did a terrific job! You’ve made the porecss very easy for me that’s exactly why I have put this daunting task off for 8 years. I had the information in my head but had no idea how to begin bringing my story to the world. Thank you so much and thank you in advance to all those who are helping to share my story.